Blog Posts

We live in a world where people are quick to praise the new and deride the antiquated. When it comes to song selection in our churches, this spirit of our age makes it easy to discover contemporary music and incorporate it into our services.

Though this has many benefits, too deep a fascination with novel melodies poses a danger that our worship will stray far from the invaluable canticles of the past. To combat such deadfall, it’s important to make a concerted effort to seek timeless and meaningful hymns.

There you are, standing barefoot in a giant outdoor amphitheatre, listening to your favorite band perform live in front of thousands of other people. You close your eyes and feel the pulse of the bass and God’s presence moving through you. You are exactly where you need to be this summer – you are at Alive Festival.

Getting its start in 1988, Alive Festival has grown to be one of the country’s largest Christian music festivals. Next month’s four-day, multi-stage festival (July 20 - 23, 2016) welcomes some of the most well-known Christian artists from around the world. This post aims to explain why you should attend this year’s celebration.

It’s said that a good sermon can’t be too long and a bad sermon can’t be short enough.

The sermon is one of the most important parts of the service. Done well, it can elevate a weekly routine into something memorable and life-changing. Done poorly, it is quickly forgotten.

As you’ll see in the 2012 National Congregations Study, there’s no “best” or “right” way to conduct a sermon. Below are some interesting facts on how they can be influenced by region, congregation size, and other factors.

“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.’”

It’s impossible to ignore the increasing presence of churches on social media. Most churches now have Facebook pages and Twitter accounts, as they've realized that they can use these platforms to further connect and communicate with their community.

As churches seek to connect with their younger members, many have started to consider two additional forms of social media: Snapchat and Instagram.

Many churches are fortunate to enjoy a following that relishes traveling with their fellow members. It’s during these trips that community members build lasting relationships and gain meaningful experiences they’ll never forget.

If you have a member at your church who typically plans all the group trips throughout the year, we highly recommend you consider sending them to this year’s Going On Faith Conference.